It's been many years since Jolie Lindley visited Paris, let alone the Notre Dame cathedral. On the day after Palm Sunday, the Hoosier set foot inside the church, looking closely at artifacts, artwork and statues on display while hearing the sound of people worshipping.

"It's not merely a museum-like tourist destination; it's a working church," Lindley said in a message to the Courier & Press.

Lindley, a Paoli native who holds degrees from both Butler and Indiana University, lived and worked in Indiana before moving out of state. Visiting Paris on a work-related trip, she says she was at the church between 2-3 p.m. local time, before moving on to tour other parts of the city with her group.

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Inside Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, just hours before a fire significantly damaged the historic building.(Photo: Courtesy of Jolie Lindley)

"We were admiring the beauty of the stained glass and the stunning Gothic architecture," Lindley said of looking inside the church. "It's difficult to fathom (that) you're looking at over 800 years of history."

By 6:30 p.m., just hours after admiring the cathedral, the news came in the form of a text message from a friend in Louisville, Kentucky. Between the news on her phone and looks of those passing by, Lindley said realized "a tragedy was unfolding."

"You could see the shock on people's faces in the street as we left the restaurant. I had tears in my eyes thinking about all the historic art and artifacts inside," Lindley said.

Notre Dame Cathedral is burning in Paris on Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. AP

Notre Dame cathedral is burning in Paris, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. Lori Hinant, AP

Reports indicated that salvage efforts were underway to recover several precious artifacts from inside the church.

The fire burned for hours, toppling the church's spire while firefighters worked to save the building's iconic towers. Despite a bleak, early outlook, Paris' mayor and firefighters have since said they will be able to salvage parts of the building.

After seeing the inside of the historic building and hours later seeing flames pour out and smoke cover the city from the Montparnasse Tower, the news remains tough for Lindley to process.

"Personally, it's difficult to understand how something I just saw today has now been so damaged," Lindley said.

Parisian prosecutors have said they've opened an investigation into the cause of the fire. Officials have said the blaze's origin could be linked to work connected to a $6.8 million renovation project.

Nate Chute is a producer with the USA Today Network. Follow him on Twitter at @nchute.